Basketball Hockey Table

ABSTRACT

A basketball hockey game table is convertible between a basketball mode and an air hockey mode and includes an air hockey playing surface having a pair of opposed air hockey goals. The pair of opposed air hockey goals have goal openings. An air hockey base member is included with the basketball hockey game table, and the air hockey playing surface is mounted on the air hockey base member. At least one support leg supports the air hockey base member. A vertical support member is connected to the air hockey base member when the convertible game table is in basketball mode, and the vertical support member supports a top line when the convertible game table is in basketball mode.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of convertible hockey tables, more particularly for a hockey table that converts to a basketball table.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

A wide variety of amusement devices have made a basketball set up for shooting hoops indoors on a miniaturized scale. Table basketball is a smaller indoor version of outdoor basketball and is often played with a smaller ball. Hockey air tables have also been deployed in game rooms for the amusement of players.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A basketball hockey game table is convertible between a basketball mode and an air hockey mode and includes an air hockey playing surface having a pair of opposed air hockey goals. The pair of opposed air hockey goals have goal openings. An air hockey base member is included with the basketball hockey game table, and the air hockey playing surface is mounted on the air hockey base member. At least one support leg supports the air hockey base member. A vertical support member is connected to the air hockey base member when the convertible game table is in basketball mode, and the vertical support member supports a top line when the convertible game table is in basketball mode.

A basketball goal includes a backboard and rim, and the basketball goal is mounted to the top line. A return net mounted over the air hockey playing surface so that the return net has a return net upper end mounted to the top line. The return net further is bounded on a left and right side by a left linear net support on a return net left side and by a right linear net support on a return net right side. A bottom pocket is formed at a lower end of the return net.

The return net is formed of a primary net section bounded by a left net section on a left side of the sloped primary net section and a right net section on a right side of the primary net section. The primary net section has a slope. The left net section has a greater slope than the primary net section and the right net section has a greater slope than the primary net section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a hockey table table mode view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a basketball mode view of the present invention.

The following call out list of elements can be used as a guide in referencing the elements of the drawings.

-   21 Support Leg -   22 Air Hockey Playing Surface -   23 Air Hockey Sidewall -   24 Air Hockey Base -   25 Air Hockey Goal -   31 Primary Net Section -   32 Left Linear Net Support -   33 Right Linear Net Support -   34 Vertical Support Post -   35 Top Line -   36 Bottom Edge -   37 Bottom Pocket -   38 Front Net Section -   39 Left Net Section -   139 Right Net Section -   40 Basketball Goal -   41 Basketball Backboard -   42 Basketball Rim

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is a convertible game table that converts between air hockey and table basketball. The game table in normal usage is an air hockey table which may have an oval playing surface 22 which typically has numerous small openings from which air escapes. The small openings disposed on the oval playing surface allow the puck to float over the playing surface. Air flow from the small openings is driven from a fan or air pump located in the air hockey base 24. The air hockey base 24 is supported by a plurality of support legs 21. The supporting member can be fashioned as a cabinet rather than legs. An air hockey sidewall 23 prevents the puck from escaping the playing surface and allows rebounding of the puck on the playing surface.

A basketball goal 40 is suspended on a top line 35 which can be made of a cable, or a rigid rod. The basketball goal 40 has a basketball backboard 41 and a basketball rim 42. The top line 35 is supported at a left and right end from a pair of vertical support posts 34. The basketball goal is preferably weighted so that the backboard remains substantially vertical. The basketball goal can also be rigidly attached to the top line rather than only hung from it. The bottom ends of the vertical support posts are attached to the air hockey base 24.

The top line 35 also receives a return net company a number of sections. A primary net section 31 is bounded on a left and right side by left net section and a right net section to comprise a return net which is bounded on a left and right side by a left linear net support 32 on the left and a right linear net support 33 on the right. The primary net section may be attached to a pair of left and right net sections, namely a left net section 39 and a right net section 139. The left net section 39 can be bounded by the primary net section 31 on the right side of the left net section 39 and the left net section 39 can be bounded by the left linear net support 32 on a left side of the left net section 39. The right net section 139 can be bounded by the primary net section 31 on a left side of the right net section 139 and the right net section 139 can be bounded by the right linear net support 33 on the right.

The right linear net support in the left linear net support can be formed as a pair of strips of fabric overlapping and edge of the net. Optionally, the right linear net support and the left linear net support can be formed as a rope, cord or cable receiving and interwoven with an edge of the return net. The pair of linear net supports are preferably flexible and have elasticity. The primary net section 31 is shown as being draped over a surface of the air hockey table playing surface. The primary net section 31 can be held loose so that a basketball hitting the primary net section 31 could hit the air hockey table playing surface, and with elasticity on the primary net section, the basketball would be urged toward the front pocket 37.

The primary net section 31 is angled and sloping down so that it is disposed lengthwise on the air hockey table playing surface. The left net section 39 and right net section 139 are preferably more vertically oriented. The return net may also have a bottom pocket 37 formed from a front net section 38 having a lower bounds at a bottom edge 36. Basketballs falling from the goal may fall onto the primary net section and be retained and received in the bottom pocket 37. The net return can be made of a fine web net. A pair of vertical support pole can be used, but at least one support pole is required.

When a user is done with playing basketball, the user can remove the goal 40 and then take down the pole 34. The ball and goal and pole can be stowed in a compartment under the air hockey base 24 or the compartment can be integral with the air hockey base 24. The air hockey base 24 may also store the return net and the air hockey articles such as the puck and the pair of air hockey mallets. The air hockey goals have goal openings for receiving the air hockey pucks.

Therefore, while the presently preferred form of the system has been shown and described, and several modifications thereof discussed, persons skilled in this art will readily appreciate that various additional changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as defined and differentiated by the following claims. For example, the table footing can be made to be adjustable in height so as to allow regulation dimensions for both modes. 

1. A basketball hockey game table convertible between a basketball mode and an air hockey mode comprising: a. an air hockey playing surface having a length and width having a pair of opposed air hockey goals, wherein the pair of opposed air hockey goals have goal openings; b. an air hockey base member, wherein the air hockey playing surface is mounted on the air hockey base member; c. at least one support leg supporting the air hockey base member; d. a vertical support member connected to the air hockey base member when the convertible game table is in basketball mode, and wherein the vertical support member supports a top line when the convertible game table is in basketball mode; e. a basketball goal including a backboard and rim, wherein the basketball goal is mounted to the top line; and a return net mounted over the air hockey playing surface, wherein the return net has a return net upper end mounted to the top line, wherein the return net further is bounded on a left and right side by a left linear net support on a return net left side and by a right linear net support on a return net right side, wherein the basketball goal and return net is over the air hockey playing surface, wherein the return net is mounted over the pair of opposing goals.
 2. The basketball hockey game table of claim 1, further comprising a bottom pocket formed at a lower end of the return net.
 3. The basketball hockey game table of claim 1, wherein the return net is formed of a primary net section bounded by a left net section on a left side of the sloped primary net section and a right net section on a right side of the primary net section, wherein the primary net section has a slope, wherein the left net section has a greater slope than the primary net section and wherein the right net section has a greater slope than the primary net section.
 4. The basketball hockey game table of claim 1, wherein the return net is mounted lengthwise across the air hockey playing surface.
 5. The basketball hockey game table of claim 1, wherein the basketball goal is detachable from the top line.
 6. The basketball hockey game table of claim 1, wherein the at least one vertical support pole is formed as a pair of poles, wherein the at least one vertical support pole is detachable from the air hockey base member.
 7. The basketball hockey game table of claim 1, wherein the return net further includes a bottom pocket formed from a front net section and wherein the return net has a lower bounds at a bottom edge. 